Found a Chief

sandspur6 · #1 06-15-2020, 12:24 PM

I picked up an early Chief Special at a local gun show Saturday. It has the I-Frame size grip and the small trigger guard. The cylinder has been replaced with a new one. I am not sure about the hammer. It has the later type and I don't know when they went to that from the pre-war type. My SN (314XX) places it at about 1953 if I read my Catalog right. What you all think?

Old cop · #2 06-15-2020, 12:54 PM

Maybe it’s the lighting, or b/c you called attention to it, but the cylinder looks like it’s too big for the frame.

Hondo44 · #3 06-15-2020, 01:30 PM

The cyl is the correct size. The 38 Spl takes a cyl length that fills the cyl window.

You have a Baby J frame Chief. It's a pre model of 1953.

It has the pre 1953 I and J frame grips size; they're the same size.

The model of 1953 new J frame uses the Model of 1953 I and J frame size grip; again the same size.

murphydog · #4 06-15-2020, 02:01 PM

Not sure if the hammer is original; if the spur is wider than the rest of the part I think it is a replacement.

sandspur6 · #5 06-15-2020, 02:10 PM

No, the hammer is all the same width and looks like the ones on 1960's Chiefs. I know that the earliest Chiefs had a hammer that resembled the pre-war I-Frame hammer. I just don't know when that switch was made and if the one I have is correct. Thanks.

two-bit cowboy · #6 06-15-2020, 02:30 PM

Congrats on obtaining your Baby Chiefs Special.

According to my database, others near your serial number shipped in May '53.

Does the cylinder have a serial number on the back face?

The hammer on yours is known as the large coarse hammer, a change from the small knurled hammer ordered by S&W on December 23, 1955, according to S&W historian Roy Jinks. As is typical, though, it took the company a while to implement the change order -- I have several Chiefs that shipped in '56 with the small hammer.

kennethg · #7 06-15-2020, 02:44 PM

Here are photos of my baby chiefs hammer, serial #36XXX. Hopefully this will help.

sandspur6 · #8 06-15-2020, 03:08 PM

No, the cylinder has no SN or other markings on it. It appears to be a brand new cylinder as it is a high polish blue unlike the dull 1950's blue on the rest of the gun. All the edges on the cylinder are sharp and crisp with no signs of wear. The crane is likewise polished blue and has no assembly numbers on the inside, nor SN on the rear face of it. If the coarse hammer came into use in, or after, 1955, then the hammer on my 1953 Chief has also obviously been changed. I have an early, knurled J-Frame hammer, so I will see if I can fit it to this Chief. Many thanks for your info.

Hondo44 · #9 06-15-2020, 06:23 PM

The coarse hammer starts showing up at ~# 32751 Baby, with new hammer, 1st style flat latch, ramp sight, shipped 6/10/53, to NYPD.

Highest # 5086X that I know of, dates to 1954, still has fine knurled early hammer.

If yours still has the spring strut with the ball end joining it to hammer, it may be original.

sandspur6 · #10 06-15-2020, 06:31 PM

Thanks. I'll check tonight.

Green Frog · #11 06-16-2020, 08:19 AM

One of the few guns I’ve sold and never been totally satisfied with the replacement was my Baby Chiefs Special. My first one was early enough to have the half round sights, but now I have one like yours with ramp front sight and flat latch. From the standpoint of useful to old eyes, the ramp is easier to see, therefore superior. From a sentimental standpoint, not so much.

Froggie

JSR III · #12 06-16-2020, 10:16 AM

FWIW, I own 12433 that shipped in August of 1952, 20768 which shipped on 10/14/1952 and a pre model 37 serial number 28530 that shipped in September of 1953.

Hopefully, this may help you determine the approximate time frame that your gun shipped.

sandspur6 · #13 06-16-2020, 11:29 AM

Well, the knurled hammer dropped right in, so all is good. Thank you all again for your help and expertise.
(I don't know why the damn picture attached upsidedown.)

kscharlie · #14 06-16-2020, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hondo44

The coarse hammer starts showing up at ~# 32751 Baby, with new hammer, 1st style flat latch, ramp sight, shipped 6/10/53, to NYPD.

Highest # 5086X that I know of, dates to 1954, still has fine knurled early hammer.

If yours still has the spring strut with the ball end joining it to hammer, it may be original.

Jim, in our discussion of this Baby Chief, we determined that in all probability the hammer was replaced at a later date. The spring strut on this one is forked and pinned. It does not have the ball end. So, even though 32751 has the coarse hammer, it is not original to the gun.
Baby Chief Cleaned up Right Nice